Police: Fitness trainer used new technology to steal credit card info

NORCROSS, Ga. - Police said a fitness trainer used new technology to steal credit card information from unsuspecting gym members.

Channel 2's Kerry Kavanaugh spoke with the trainer who said it's a misunderstanding.

"I'm 100 percent innocent," said Damon Hartley.

But Gwinnett County police said Hartley had unlimited access to member's credit card information on file at Gold's Gym in Norcross.

Police believe he abused his access and stole the information of at least six members.

"They discovered that an employee had conducted several unauthorized credit card transactions using customers credit cards stored on file," said Detective James Flanagan with the Gwinnett County Police Department.

Flanagan said Hartley racked up thousands in unauthorized charges using a credit card processing company called Square.

Square provides processing to anyone with a business and a bank account.

According to a website police found, Hartley runs his own personal training company.

"So some of the victims thought it was a legit Gold's Gym charge and wanted to know why Gold's charged their account without their permission," Flanagan said.

Flanagan said the money would go into Hartley's account and then he would take it out.

Gold's Gym said as soon as they were notified of the alleged fraudulent charges, they called police.

A spokesperson emailed Kavanaugh a statement saying in part, "We have been working closely with the authorities to assist them in their investigation and help our members recover any lost funds. This includes issuing refunds and honoring personal training sessions."

Police said new technology may have enabled this alleged crime, but it also helped investigators.

"We follow money. And at the end of day it's easy to show where the money went," Flanagan told Kavanaugh.

Hartley insists evidence will come out in court that will clear his name.